Free turning tie nut and plug valve

ABSTRACT

A free turning plug valve and tie nut wherein the plug is retained in the valve housing by a threaded retainer which rotates in an antifriction bearing and the retainer engages an abutment positively limiting the tightening action of the retainer; and wherein the plug or the wall of the housing in which it oscillates has a friction reducing plastic surface, which in cooperation with the controlled tightening means prevents binding of the plug in the housing.

United States Patent Walton 1151 3,656,713 [451 Apr. 18, 1972 [54] FREETURNING TIE NUT AND PLUG VALVE [72] Inventor: Richard C. Walton,Hollywood, Calif.

[73] Assignee: Annelie Hoyer Walton, Hollywood, Los

Angeles County, Calif. a part interest 22 Filed: May 1, 1970 [21]Appl.No.: 33,821

[52] U.S. Cl ..25l/309 [51] Int. Cl ...F16k 5/02 [58] Field ofSearch..251/309, 310, 3] l, 312, 315

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,664,263 12/1953 Stadler..25l/309 X 3,093,358 6/1963 Wakeman... .....25l/309 2,885,179 5/1959Hartmann ..25l/3l5 3,151,837 10/1964 Bentley-Leek ..251/3l5 X Hart'mann.,25 1/3 15 3,214,135 10/1965 3,218,024 11/1965 14166861 ..251/315x3,252,684 5/1966 Ksieski ..251/3o9x 3,384,337 5/1968 Brown ..251/309x3,467,356 9/1969 Mueller ..251/309x 3,508,573 4/1970 Smith ..251/3o9xPrimary Examiner-Samuel Scott AnomeyAllan D. Mockabee [57] ABSTRACT Afree turning plug valve and tie nut wherein the plug is,

retained in the valve housing by a threaded retainer'which rotates in anantifriction bearing and the retainer engages an abutment positivelylimiting the tightening action of the retainer; and wherein the plug orthe wall of the housing in which it oscillates has a friction reducingplastic surface, which in cooperation with the controlled tighteningmeans prevents binding of the plug in the housing.

5 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures .PATE'NTEDAPR 181972 E/CHA 0 a M/AATO/VINVENTOR FREE TURNING TIE NUT AND PLUG VALVE This invention relates to afree turning plug valve and tie nut and more particularly, it isapplicable to valves of fairly large size which must be capable ofefiicient sealing against leakage and which under present circumstances,and with present constructions, frequently results in binding of thevalve plug in the housing so tightly that it is quite difficult to turnthe plug.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a plug valve in whichthe plug is tapered and the reduced end connected to some tighteningmeans, such as a free turning tie nut, wherein the tie nut can besecurely tightened and-yet wherein means is provided for insuring freerotation of the plug.

More specifically, it is an object to provide between the portion of theplug to which the tie nut is connected, and the housing, suitableantifriction means for insuring free rotation of the plug.

A further object of the invention is to provide a valve of the typedescribed wherein the plug ismaintained in a freely rotatable condition,and yet wherein a proper seal against the leakage of fluids ismaintained between the plug and the hous- Still another object of theinvention is to provide a plug of the type described wherein either theside wall of the plug, or the wall portion of the housing which definesthe plug cavity, is of a low friction plastic material so that even whenthe plug is tightened in its cavity up to a predetermined maximum, theplastic surface, as well as the antifriction mounting for the plugretaining means, will insure proper rotation of the plug as well as toprevent leakage.

Another object is to provide a plug valve wherein the plug issupported-by an antifriction bearing which is sealed and will satisfysanitary requirements, such as those incident to their use in dairiesand other food plants.

Another object is to provide an improved free turning tie nutconstruction.

The above and other objects will more fully appear from the followingdescription in connection with the accompanying drawing:

FIG. I- is a view partially in side elevation and partially in verticalsection of an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view partially in vertical section of a modifiedform of construction.

There is illustrated a valve including a housing 4 having a generallyhorizontal barrel defined by circular flanges 6 and 8. Flanges 6 and 8lie at either side of a longitudinal flow passage 10 defined by upperand lower cylindrical portions 12 and 14. The flanges 6 and 8 on theirinner sides define a frustoconical plug cavity 16 which intersects theflow passage 10 at right angles thereto.

In the cavity 16 is a valve plug 18 which is frustoconical in shape. ltslarger end extends outwardly from the circular flange 6 and is providedwith an operating handle 20. The medial portion of the plug 18 isprovided with a circular passageway 22 which preferably is of the samesize as the flow passage 10. The larger end of the plug 18 closely fitsin the flange 6 and the smaller end closely fits in the flange 8.

Extending axially from the smaller end of the plug 18 is a threaded stem24 having an enlarged base portion 26. Threaded on the stem 24 is a tienut 28 whose left or inner end is recessed as at 30. to clear theenlargement 26 on the threaded stem 24. The wing nut 28 has an innerabutment face 32 adapted to engage the right side 34 of an inner bearingrace 36.

Lying about the inner bearing race 36 and outwardly concentric theretois an outer race 38. Between the races lie conventional bearing rollers42. As shown, each side of the bearing unit comprising races 36 and 38and rollers 42 are provided with seals 44. Around the outer roller race38 and closely fitting the same, is a sleeve 46 having a flange 48 whichis adapted to abut the end face 50 of the flange 8. Preferably, theouter roller race 38 is press fitted in the sleeve 46. Also, the innerrace 36 of the roller bearing assembly is axially confined againstmovement to the right by an inwardly directed portion of the flange 48.

Threaded into the outer end of the nut 28 is an abutment screw 29 whichis shown in FIG. 1 to abut the end of the threaded stem 24. This screwadjustably limits the extent to which the nut 28 can be turned onto thethreaded stem 24, and also it limits the amount of pressure of the nutabutment face 32 against the bearing race 36, through the rollers 42,race 38 and sleeve 46 to the valve housing 4. This, of course, limitsthe degree to which the valve plug 18 is pulled into the cavity 16.

The screw 29 can be tightened against the stem 24 to lock the nut 28 inposition. The rotary plug 18 is formed from a suitable friction reducingplastic material which will slide easi ly relative to the metal walls onthe inner sides of flanges 6 and 8 which define the plug cavity 16.

When the valve is assembled as shown in FIG. 1, the tie nut 28 with itswings 28A can be tightened until its abutment face 32 clamps the rollerbearing unit and its sleeve 46 between said face and the end face 50 ofthe flange 8. This pressure is sufficient to draw the plug 18 to theright in the cavity 16 in sufficiently intimate contact with the wallsof said cavity to prevent leakage. A stop screw 29 is threaded throughthe nut 28 and its inner end abuts the end of the threaded stem 24 tolimit the extent to which the nut 28 can be tightened and the plug 18drawn into its cavity. The plug can be readily rotated by the usualhandle 20 and rotation is facilitated, not only by the bearing unit, butalso by reason of the plastic plug. The plastic functions much in themanner of a nylon bearing. It is also contemplated that I could useplastic coated metal plugs. While I would prefer to apply it to the plug18, because it is more convenient to do so, it could be applied to thefrustoconical walls defining the inner sides of the flanges 6 and 8, aswell as that portion of the housing 12 which also defines the plugcavity 16.

In FIG. 2 there is-shown a similar arrangement except that there areball races 54 and 5,6 which confine ball bearings 58. At opposite sidesof the two sets of ball bearings I provide seals 60 which efficientlyseal against the admission of milk or other food liquids into thebearing and also against leakage of any liquids or other foreignsubstances from the interior of the bearing into the stream of milk orother liquid flowing through the passage 10 in the valve housing. Thedetails of the seals 60 are not shown but it is to be understood thatthe inner ball race 54 is adapted to rotate with the tie nut 28 andsleeve 61 relative to the seals 60.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a plug valvewhich is capable of operating without leaking and yet which can befirmly retained in its cavity and housing by positive tightening orretaining means without causing the plug to bind in its cavity. Withconventional types of plug valves they sometimes bind to the extent thatthe operating handles 20 are hammered on and broken, or the handlescannot be moved without the aid of an extension pipe inserted on thehandle, which in turn results in damage or breakage thereto. It is avalve which is provided with antifriction bearings for freedom ofmovement wherein the bearings are properly isolated from the liquidsflowing through the valve so that there is no possibility ofcontamination. Furthermore, the antifriction means provided by thebearings functions in conjunction with an antifriction surface providedeither on the plug or the wall of the cavity in which the plug isreceived so that a smoothly acting and properly leakproof valve isproduced.

It will of course be understood that various changes can be made in theform, details, arrangement and proportions of the various parts, withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A plug valve including a housing having a fluid flow porttherethrough, a frustoconical valve plug cavity intersecting said port,wherein the improvement comprises: a frustoconical valve plug in saidcavity and having an axial stem on its smaller end, axially acting valveplug securing means on said axial stem, and antifriction meansconstituting at least part of the bearing race is rotatable relative tothe other bearing race and the fluid seal means, means wherein saidaxial stem is threaded, and said axially acting valve plug securingmeans is threaded upon said axial stem, and said valve plug securingmeans having adjustable stop means limiting movement of said valve plugsecuring means on said threaded stem.

2. The structure as in claim 1, wherein said antifriction meanscomprises, a bearing assembly having a pair of concentric inner andouter races with rotary antifriction bearing elements mounted betweensaid races, bearing assembly locating and supporting means interposedbetween one of said races and said housing, and said valve plug securingmeans being interposed between the other of said races and said stem andplug.

3. The structure in claim 1, wherein said valve plug includes a lowfriction plastic surface in rotary sliding contact with the innersurface of said cavity, said plastic surface and said antifriction meanssupporting the valve plug for turning movement free of metal-to-metalsliding contact with said housing.

4. The structure in claim 3, and said antifriction means comprising apair of races, and roller bearing elements between the races.

5. The structure in claim 3, and means associated with one of said stemand securing means limiting axial tightening movement of the securingmeans.

1. A plug valve including a housing having a fluid flow porttherethrough, a frustoconical valve plug cavity intersecting said port,wherein the improvement comprises: a frustoconical valve plug in saidcavity and having an axial stem on its smaller end, axially acting valveplug securing means on said axial stem, and antifriction meansconstituting at least part of the support for said valve plug andinterposed between said plug stem and securing means on the one hand,and said housing on the other hand, said antifriction means comprising apair of concentric bearing races, rotary antifriction bearing elementsbetween said races, fluid seal means between the bearing races at eachside of said bearing elements, means wherein one bearing race isrotatable relative to the other bearing race and the fluid seal means,means wherein said axial stem is threaded, and said axially acting valveplug securing means is threaded upon said axial stem, and said valveplug securing means having adjustable stop means limiting movement ofsaid valve plug securing means on said threaded stem.
 2. The structureas in claim 1, wherein said antifriction means comprises, a bearingassembly having a pair of concentric inner and outer races with rotaryantifriction bearing elements mounted between said races, bearingassembly locating and supporting means interposed between one of saidraces and said housing, and said valve plug securing means beinginterposed between the other of said races and said stem and plug. 3.The structure in claim 1, wherein said valve plug includes a lowfriction plastic surface in rotary sliding contact with the innersurface of said cavity, said plastic surface and said antifriction meanssupporting the valve plug for turning movement free of metal-to-metalsliding contact with said housing.
 4. The structure in claim 3, and saidantifriction means comprising a pair of races, and roller bearingelements between the races.
 5. The structure in claim 3, and meansassociated with one of said stem and securing means limiting axialtightening movement of the securing means.